key west tips

A few easy questions that will hopefully bring quick answers:

1. Seems that a car is NOT needed once we arrive in Key West. If so, are cabs reasonable or has NYC gone south?

2. With regard to flights from EWR, is there a website that tracks PRIOR fares. I am curious what the fares WERE this past winter in order to know what a fair one way ticket should run?

3. Any tips on half day snorkle trips are appreciated.

4. Finally, is the Dry Tortuga trip worth the price or is the snorkling as good closer to the mainland.

Hope someone can help in our planning.

Thanks.

It's all relative...

mishpat said:

Seems that a car is NOT needed once we arrive in Key West. If so, are cabs reasonable or has NYC gone south?

Click to expand...

Can't comment knowledgeably on comparisons to NYC , but I've found Key West cab fares to be unacceptably high and stopped using them. There is public bus service around the "island", but I've not used it ---found that I'd rather walk or bicycle around. YMMV --- if you're accustomed to larcenous NYC numbers, you might not even blink at Key West cab fares. If you're staying anywhere in "Old Town", you can pretty much walk to anywhere and everywhere of interest anyhow (...not so if you're at the other end of the island --- e.g. at Coconut Mallory, or Hyatt Windward Pointe).

As far as snorkeling trips, I don't think there is a dimes' bit of difference among the handful of options available to you at the Key West waterfront around Front St. Unless you also want to see Fort Jefferson (...which is certainly interesting and of historical interest in and of itself), I'm not sure I'd recommend investing in a full day Dry Tortugas boat trip just to snorkel --- if snorkeling is really your only objective.

If you're staying close to Duval Street, you can walk to most places to visit, with only a cab trip to the marinia... Otherwise, you may want to rent a car or scooter to get around.

A tour to the Dry Tortugas is, IMHO, a once in a lifetime event that's well worth the time... not for the snorkeling, but for the Fort and end-of-the-world experience... but only if you're willing to take a day away from the touristy kitsch in Key West.

We exchanged into Hyatt Windward Pointe this past August (a review is coming). I checked the airfares to Key West which were in the neighborhood of $350, so we decided to fly nonstop from LGA to FLL for $189, rent a car for about $250, and drive to Key West. The drive is 4 1/2 hours from FLL, 4 hours from Miami, but it is very scenic.

It really depends on where you are staying and how important the convenience and independence of having a car is to you. (It is very important to my husband!) It certainly is convenient for supermarket runs, and going to the beach, for example, and exploring other parts of the keys. And although Hyatt Widnward Pointe is on a bus stop, I just couldn't imagine us taking it to and from the supermarket, or going to the beach.

The Dry Tortugas trip is kind of pricey, but as another poster said, it is a once in a lifetime experience, and quite interesting. The beach is very pretty, the hike around the moat is fun, and the best snorkeling is found among the pilings. We went on the Fast Cat with Sunny Days catamarans. It was comfortable for the 20 or so passengers, but I'm not sure I would have liked it as much had the vessel been filled to the gills. We also booked a snorkeling trip with them on the Caribbean Spirit and got a discount for being repeat customers. As far as the snorkeling itself: it was pretty mediocre, in my opinion.

I just flew LGA to EYW for $383 RT in October. Bought it in August after fare shopping for months. That is about the usual, last year I may have paid $400 though. Having a car is not a benefit unless you are staying on the other side of the Island. Cab fare to/from the airport is a standard $8 per person, kids 1/2 price. We got a cab from Windward point to Sunset Harbor for $17 (2 adults, 2 kids), so it was cheaper that way. Borrowed a car to go to Publix, otherwise you can walk or ride a bike to Waterfront market or Faustos for food shopping.

We tried the Fury Catamaran all day trip last year, which gave you snorkeling, kayaking, waverunners, parasailing and food. Never again. Way too crowded, the snorkeling was awful as they take you to the rough seas and I couldn't even get out in the water. I have been to the Dry Tortugas by seaplane and the snorkeling was just not worth the price. The visit to the island might be, but don't just go for the snorkeling.

I love the Danger trip and we have returned to it this year. Kayaking, snorkeling, sailing, great food for the all day trip. About $100 per adult, we got a frequent flyer discount and spent about $85. http://www.dangercharters.com/

Enjoy your trip!

I went to Fort Jefferson as a teenager on a trip to Key West. It is really the only thing I remember about the trip. I think it is worth the money.

As far as fare costs go, also factor in the number in your party. My family (traveling party of 4) flew into EYW directly one year, because we were able to get FF seats (at the saver level). However, the premium when paying to fly into EYW (vs FLL) is often so high, that multiplied by 4, it's tough to not fly into FLL, and take a rental car down. We end up having a rental car in KW anyway (we're sort of lazy!), so really no extra costs there.

East Coast (PHL) to FLL can be $200, vs often $400+ for EYW. It's nice to be able to skip the drive, but at a $800 cost, I can't justify that. Fortunately the drive is an attractive one, and as long as there isn't heavy congestion, usually not that bad.

Jeff

key west

Thanks so far to all the posters. We are planning on staying three nights at the Westin using SPG points so I am surmising the rental car is not worth it at that point. Getting there is still the rub. There are no non stops from Jersey. Using AA points on a one way times four means I will save approx $800.00 and use only 50K points. Fair deal. The rub is that the only flights arrive after nine at night. On the other side, USAir gets us in after 3 but I am skeptical that the extra two hours of daylight are worth $800.00. In the two full remaining days plus half a Friday we would have, I am sure we can get in plenty of R&R, snorkling, shopping, and a couple of historic homes to boot. Makes sense?

The drive from Miami to Key West is about 3.5 hours you are driving with water on both sides of you most of the way. Could you get a cheaper early flight into Miami and rent a car to drive down? I did that once and we rented a convertible. It was a nice drive.

Strickly: Thanks for the advice and Lee was amazing last night. Can he pitch game four or five(Pedro in Yankee Stadium is kinda scary. Thank God, Don Zimmer is no longer in the opposing dugout)

I love Key West!!! I have never been to the fort but that is the only thing I wish I had done. My friend went and he said the snorkeling was great around the fort. Who knows? It was his first try at snorkeling. I'll also recommend going to Loo Keye and snorkel there. Very good except for the big big shark that showed up and scared the bejeezers out of me!! It was floating right beside Kelli. shaggy